KWSC probes suspected dual salaries

SAP data flags employees allegedly drawing pay from two public-sector entities

KARACHI:

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) has launched an inquiry after its SAP system flagged a list of employees suspected of drawing salaries simultaneously from two government organisations, raising questions about possible duplicate payments and financial irregularities.

The list reportedly includes senior officials of the water utility, with some employee records said to reflect periods spanning 30 to 35 years. However, the extent of any financial loss and the number of employees involved remain to be established through a detailed scrutiny of official records.

Acting on the findings, Director Personnel Ghazanfar Ali Khan constituted a five-member inquiry committee on October 6 on the orders of the managing director, directing it to submit its report within 14 days.

According to the inquiry order, some employees may have been working for other government departments or public-sector organisations while drawing salaries from both institutions. The committee has been tasked with determining whether the suspected dual payments actually occurred or resulted from data-entry errors, duplicate records or administrative lapses.

The inquiry will examine appointment orders, service records, salary bills, last-pay certificates and relevant documents from the organisations concerned to establish the employment status of the employees and verify the payments.

The committee has been authorised to summon relevant officers and employees, obtain official records and give each employee an opportunity to explain their position before finalising its findings.

However, the 14-day deadline has reportedly expired without any major development being made public so far.

Sources said the salaries of officials appearing on the list had been withheld after the SAP system flagged the suspected duplicate payments. They added that if the allegations are substantiated through documentary evidence, the employees concerned could face recovery of excess payments and disciplinary action, including possible dismissal from service.

The inquiry is expected to determine how many employees, if any, received duplicate salaries, the amount involved and who should be held accountable for any financial loss to the public exchequer.